Assassination: Rep. Agbese denies Benue deputy speaker’s claims

The Deputy Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has insisted that there was an attempt to assassinate him in Benue State.

Agbese, who represents Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of the state, picked holes in the claims by the Deputy Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Mrs Lami Ogenyi, that the assassination attempt on his life on Thursday, April 4, 2024, was a hoax and an attempt to attract public sympathy.

Some newspapers had reported that eight suspects were remanded by a Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court, following an alleged assassination attempt on Rep. Agbese, after he was reportedly attacked by political hoodlums while distributing food items to his constituents in Igumale in Ado Local Government Area.

During the court proceedings, Police Prosecuting Officer J.S Kwaghlaade brought charges against Peter Gilbert, Pius Aboh, Awuru Sunday, Gabriel Ojoko, Paul Ochigbo, Yusuf Ajibo, Cyril Egwu, and Daniel Odoh for their alleged involvement in the attempted assassination.

The charges included criminal conspiracy, attempted culpable homicide, acts of terrorism, and possession of firearms.

An earlier statement from the media office of Rep. Agbese said one of the suspects was found in possession of the vehicle of Mrs Ogenyi.

Our correspondent reports that this prompted the Benue deputy speaker to issue a statement distancing herself from the alleged assassination attempt on Rep. Agbese.

But in a letter to some media houses dated April 12, 2024, Agbese insisted that he was attacked by miscreants, saying any other story to the contrary was only carried to dent his image.

“It was part of the desperation to downplay the failed assassination attempt to shield the personalities behind the act that dubious article was unprofessionally sponsored,” he said.